1. What is Dilution Factor?

The dilution factor (DF) is a dimensionless number that represents the ratio of the final volume to the initial volume in a dilution process. It indicates how much a solution has been diluted.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the dilution factor formula:

Where:

• \( DF \) — Dilution factor (dimensionless)
• \( V_f \) — Final volume after dilution (mL)
• \( V_i \) — Initial volume before dilution (mL)

Explanation: The equation simply divides the final volume by the initial volume to determine how many times the original solution was diluted.

3. Importance of Dilution Factor

Details: Dilution factor is crucial in laboratory settings for preparing solutions of desired concentrations, in microbiology for culturing microorganisms, and in various analytical techniques where precise dilutions are required.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both final and initial volumes in milliliters (mL). Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the dimensionless dilution factor.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a dilution factor of 10 mean?
A: A DF of 10 means the original solution was diluted 10 times (1 part solution + 9 parts diluent).

Q2: How is dilution factor related to concentration?
A: The concentration after dilution is the original concentration divided by the dilution factor.

Q3: Can dilution factor be less than 1?
A: No, since final volume is always equal to or greater than initial volume, DF is always ≥1.

Q4: What's the difference between dilution factor and dilution ratio?
A: Dilution ratio expresses the parts of solute to total parts (e.g., 1:10), while DF is the total volume divided by solute volume.

Q5: How do I prepare a solution with a specific dilution factor?
A: Multiply the desired DF by the volume you want to prepare to determine how much stock solution to use, then add diluent to reach final volume.